Infotainment System: Usability and Shortcuts
A 10-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard and controls most functions. Below it sits one of the cabin's smartest breakthroughs - the i-Toggle system. These customizable touch-sensitive shortcuts give quick access to common features, from climate controls to navigation priorities.
This feature proves useful daily, not just a fancy add-on. You can customise these shortcuts to your needs, which helps keep your eyes on the road. Peugeot kept some physical controls too, with metal buttons below for essential functions like defrosting and climate control.
The system has its quirks. Wireless Android Auto connections can be unreliable, and some screen controls make you stretch to reach them. Allure models skip wireless charging despite having wireless smartphone mirroring.
The safety settings menu needs work - it takes two taps to turn off lane-keeping but just one for traction control, which seems backward given their safety importance.
Material Quality and Cabin Ambience
The 408's interior quality shines with soft-touch materials throughout, even in basic trims. The dashboard uses a layered design that looks sophisticated without being busy.
Premium models step up with Alcantara on doors and seats, plus a leather steering wheel that feels much better than the basic Allure version. Fabric-covered door panels add warmth to the overall feel.
The cabin comes alive at night with ambient LED lighting offering eight colour choices. Storage space is generous, with an armrest, two USB-C ports, cup holders, and 34 litres of total storage throughout.
Sound insulation works well, thanks to thicker windows (3.85mm) all around and laminated front side windows in higher trims that cut road and wind noise. This makes a big difference on long trips where comfort matters most.
Space and Practicality: Boot, Rear Seats and Storage
The Peugeot 408's space utilisation stands out as its biggest selling point. This French crossover's fastback design packs more practicality than you might expect from its sleek looks. My six-month experience with the car shows how it strikes a great balance between style and everyday use.
Boot Space: Petrol vs Hybrid
The boot capacity differs by a lot between engine options. The petrol 408 gives you an impressive 536 litres of load space, this is a big deal as it means that it surpasses expectations for a coupe-inspired design. The hybrid model's boot shrinks to 471 litres because the battery takes up cargo space.
The optional FOCAL Hi-Fi sound system takes away about 30 litres in the petrol model and 20 litres in the hybrid version. Folding the rear seats expands the maximum capacity to 1,611 litres for petrol models and 1,545 litres for hybrids.
The boot's measurements make it really practical. Our measurements show the load area stretches 997mm long and 1,045mm wide, giving you plenty of floor space. The 665mm loading lip helps a lot when you're lifting heavy items. The sloping roofline limits how high you can stack your luggage, especially taller objects.
The car has some smart features like boot levers to drop the rear seats without stretching, elasticated straps to keep loose items secure, and a ski hatch between the rear seats for longer objects. The seats don't fold completely flat, which creates a slight slope and makes loading bulky items tricky.
Rear Seat Comfort: Headroom and Legroom
The Peugeot 408's rear passenger space tells an interesting story. The legroom amazes with 188mm of official knee room. Tall people can stretch out easily even with similarly tall drivers in front – something you wouldn't expect in this fastback segment.
The headroom shows the expected trade-off. The sloping roofline cuts into vertical space for taller passengers. One reviewer noted, "six-footers might find their heads lightly touching the 408's roof if they sit up straight".
Wide-opening doors make getting in easy, but passengers need to duck slightly because of the low roof. The cabin feels dark thanks to tinted windows and dark trim. The back seat works great for families but might feel tight for three adults on long trips.
Back seat passengers get nice extras like two cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest, door bins that fit water bottles, and storage nets on the seatbacks. The rear seats feel just as comfortable as the front ones, showing Peugeot cares about all passengers.
Storage Solutions and Everyday Usability
Six months of daily use proved how valuable the 408's storage solutions are. The front cabin has many practical features, including a clever split-opening bin under the centre armrest. You can rest your arm while your passenger gets things from storage – a premium touch you usually find in more expensive cars.
The door bins deserve special mention. They're big and the front ones have felt lining to stop things from rattling. You also get a phone shelf (with wireless charging on higher trims), two good-sized cupholders, and a small cubby near the gear selector.
Back seat passengers have plenty of storage with the armrest compartment, door bins, and seatback pockets. USB-C charging ports throughout the cabin keep everyone's devices powered up during trips.
Parents will appreciate the ISOFIX mounting points for child seats, though finding the anchor points might take some time at first. Once in place, even big rear-facing baby seats fit without pushing front passengers too far forward – a huge plus for families.
Running Costs and Charging: 6-Month Ownership Data
Six months and thousands of miles later, owning a Peugeot 408 paints a clear picture of its financial impact. The daily running costs depend heavily on your choice of engine and driving habits.
Fuel Economy: Claimed vs Real
The gap between promised and actual fuel consumption stands out as one of the biggest eye-openers from long-term ownership. Peugeot's plug-in hybrid models boast impressive numbers between 211mpg and 387.5mpg. These figures are impossible to match in real-life conditions unless you're religious about charging.
Our hybrid test car averaged 56.4mpg over 4,600 miles of mixed driving. This number is good but nowhere near the official claims. The standard 1.2-litre petrol engine should deliver 41-48mpg according to official tests. Our experience shows you can hit high-40s on motorway runs. The mild hybrid version boosts efficiency by about 15% compared to the regular petrol.
Charging Times and Battery Range
The plug-in hybrids' electric range is a letdown. Peugeot says you'll get 40-50 miles, but winter testing showed just 17-22 miles after a full night's charge. This big difference makes the PHEV less attractive if you planned to run mostly on battery power.
The 12.4kWh battery needs 3 hours 50 minutes to charge with the standard 3.7kW charger and a 7.4kW home wallbox. The optional 7.4kW on-board charger cuts this time to 1 hour 55 minutes. A regular home socket takes 7.5 hours.
Insurance, Tax and Maintenance Costs
Insurance groups range from 19-21 for petrol models to 28-31 for hybrids. Similar Cupra Formentor PHEVs fall into groups 24-26, which might mean lower insurance costs.
PHEVs offer big tax benefits with CO2 emissions of 17-24g/km, putting them in the 8% BIK tax bracket[241]. Petrol versions emit 133-156g/km CO2.
Petrol models keep their value better, holding onto 49% after three years while hybrid versions retain 41-45%. Peugeot's fixed-price service plans cost £10-20 monthly with finance deals. This helps you plan your maintenance budget better.
Safety and Reliability: What’s Proven So Far?
Safety credentials and reliability records are vital factors for any family car buyer. The Peugeot 408's performance over six months of testing makes an interesting case study.
Euro NCAP Rating and Safety Tech
The Peugeot 408 earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2022. Adult occupant protection scored 84% while child occupant safety reached 87%. The vehicle performed exceptionally well in the side barrier impact test and secured maximum points for protecting all critical body areas.
Standard safety equipment across all trim levels has:
- Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane Keeping Assist with lane departure warning
- Driver Attention Alert system
- Speed limit recognition and recommendation
- Active Safety Brake system that operates between 7km/h and 140km/h
Higher-end models come with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The safety package matches up well against key competitors in this segment.
Common Issues or Faults Observed
The Peugeot 408 showed solid reliability during six months of thorough testing with only minor problems surfacing. Users reported infotainment glitches most often, which affected wireless smartphone connectivity. These issues became more noticeable in cold weather.
Some owners experienced false warnings from the lane departure system, mostly on roads with faded markings. The plug-in hybrid models showed battery range variations that went beyond normal weather-related changes.
Warranty and Service Experience
Peugeot 408 models come with a three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer warranty. This coverage falls short of the seven-year protection some rivals offer. The package includes a 12-year anti-perforation guarantee against bodywork corrosion and three years of Peugeot Assistance roadside cover.
Service schedules are set at 12,500 miles or yearly, whichever comes first. Following this maintenance timeline is essential to keep the warranty valid. Owners should maintain detailed service records.
Conclusion
The Peugeot 408 proves itself as a unique package after six months of testing. This fastback crossover catches eyes with its bold styling and practical design, though some trade-offs exist under its modern exterior. The plug-in hybrid's actual electric range falls by a lot compared to Peugeot's claims. It delivers 25-30 miles instead of the promised 40-mile range - disappointing news for drivers hoping to commute mostly on electric power.
You'll need time to get used to the i-Cockpit layout, but it works well once you do. The boot space impresses, especially in petrol models, making it perfect for families despite its sleek design. Your choice of engine makes a big difference to the experience. Company car drivers should look at the tax-friendly PHEV models. Private buyers might get better value from petrol or mild hybrid versions.
The 408 sits in its own space compared to other cars. It drives better than the comfort-focused Citroën C5 X and looks more striking than the practical Skoda Superb. Yet it's not as sporty as the Cupra Formentor. Families will feel reassured by its five-star Euro NCAP rating.
This French car's appeal comes down to what matters most to you. It works great as a stylish family car that's fun to drive, but you'll need to accept some compromises from its ambitious design. Limited headroom from the fastback styling and lower-than-claimed efficiency might put some off. But these drawbacks fade when you see the 408's striking looks and versatility. This unique Peugeot offers something different from regular crossovers, showing you can have both style and practicality.
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